The Taurus Full Moon (Wesak) Meditation: This meditation period is considered by some to be the most sacred of the year, because we are told that in this period, Gautama Buddha returns to bless humanity and the planet. It fits in with our contemplation on the problem of "attachment". Buddha taught that attachment to our desires is the cause of our pain and suffering; while detachment is the key to our happiness.
Study: now we begin to put together all that we have been studying. This month you are asked to do a basic reading for a famous person, using the rays, astrology and a psychology problem.
Meditation: this month focus is upon RULE four - SPIRITUAL READING. This is actually an instruction to train oneself to see beyond the superficial appearance of things. To read that which is behind the form. The development of the intuition is key to this facility.
Study: now we begin to put together all that we have been studying. This month you are asked to do a basic reading for a famous person, using the rays, astrology and a psychology problem.
Meditation: this month focus is upon RULE four - SPIRITUAL READING. This is actually an instruction to train oneself to see beyond the superficial appearance of things. To read that which is behind the form. The development of the intuition is key to this facility.
STUDY – ESOTERIC PSYCHOLOGY
READING FOR SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL
1. Give a one paragraph bio of the person,
and a second paragraph which gives details of the particular disorder that the
person is reported as having suffered, and how it played out.
Sir Winston Churchill (30/11/1874 – 24/01/1965)
is among the most influential people in British history and was considered as
the Greatest Briton of all time in a 2002 poll. Born to an aristocratic family,
he was an officer in the British Army and worked as a writer before going into
politics. As a soldier and part-time journalist, Churchill travelled widely,
including trips to Cuba, Afghanistan, Egypt and South Africa. Sir Winston
Churchill served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940
to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. He led Britain to victory over Nazi with
the U.S. and Soviet Union during the Second World War. On the other hand, as a
non-academic historian and writer, Churchill won the Nobel Prize in Literature
in 1953 for his overall, lifetime body of work, including countless articles and 43 book-length works in 72 volumes. Sir Winston Churchill was conferred the
honorary citizenship of the United States in 1963 by the US President Kennedy.
Churchill
suffered from manic-depression, a psychological bipolar disorder which
commenced in his youth and went throughout his long and remarkable life.
According to Churchill’s close friend, he was always either “at the top of the
wheel of confidence or at the bottom of an intense depression.” Churchill called his periods of
intense and prolonged depression as his
“black dog”, when he exhibited low
in energy, lying in bed, few interests, losses of appetite, trouble
concentrating and even having suicidal intention. On the other side of the
spectrum, when his "black dog" had become docile, Churchill exhibited
abnormally high levels of energy and restlessness; he started to work at 8 am,
staying up late, dictating his books
and only going to sleep at 2-3 am.
However, after some time, Churchill would go back into months of not talking,
not having any ideas, not having any energy. And then he would be back up
again. It is said that his mood swings were related to why Churchill drank so
heavily.
2. In the first list, you have been given
rays that are related to the disorder. What is it about that ray’s energy and
quality do you think, that could give rise to the disorder in a psyche that is
unstable? Is there another ray that you think could be related, and if so,
which ray and how?
According to the list, this bipolar disorder
of manic-depression is related to ray 4. As the ray of harmony through
conflict, of struggle, people with this ray find a very special duality
appearing in their lives and may exhibit violent mood swings. If there is
another ray that could be related to mania, it would probably be ray 6, if
taking into extreme as too much enthusiasm. Good
thoughts here Daisy. I agree that 4th R is the most likely ray to
exhibit this bi-polar disorder and the 6th if taken to extremes.
3. Do you think that ray was (or is) in
the person’s make-up? If so, in which body and what characteristics of this ray
did the person demonstrate?
Yes, I think ray 4 is in Churchill’s ray
profile structure. I guess ray 4 is in his mental body. In the case of
Churchill, we can see the two extremes in his cycles of mania and depression.
Ray 4 is also the ray of artist, and we know that Churchill is an accomplished
painter and writer.
4. Psychology problems can always be
interpreted at an astrological level. Which of the person’s Ascendant, Sun or
Moon Signs do you think, was most influential in contributing to the problem?
What Astro/ ray forces or traits of that sign in particular?
Churchill has Ascendant in Virgo, Sun in
Sagittarius and Moon in Leo. I guess his Ascendant sign and his Sun sign were
the most influential in contributing to the problem. Here we have Virgo (ASC)
and Sagittarius (Sun) squaring to each other, representing some friction and
conflict. While Virgo rising people often tend to be analytical, critical,
worrying too much that leading to depression, Sagittarius Sun (and plus Leo
Moon, another Fire) people often exhibit optimism, passion and full of energy
(mania). On the other hand, ray 4 of harmony through conflict, which is related
to the bipolar disorder, flows through Sagittarius, his Sun sign. Yes, good.
5. What therapy is recommended for this
disorder? What virtues would balance the ray excesses?
The therapy recommended for this bipolar
disorder in the EP text book is “helping the person realise the futility of the
mental life, and choose only one method of work or service, and persevere until
this is brought through into physical manifestation.” For mainstream medicine,
the therapy involves maintaining a regular sleep schedule, avoiding alcohol and
drugs, following a consistent exercise program, minimizing stress. On the other
hand, psychotherapy[1],
or "talk" therapy, is also recommended as an important part of a
comprehensive treatment for bipolar disorder. During psychotherapy, people can
discuss feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that cause them problems so that
hopefully these problems can be more clearly understood and mastered.
The virtues that would balance the ray
excesses are moderation, mindfulness, calmness, equanimity.
6. Finally, if you were a friend of the
person and was asked for advice, what would you say? What esoteric advice would
you give to help your friend straighten him or herself out, and get back on the
right track?
If I were a friend of Churchill and was asked
for advice, I would spend more time talking and discussing with him as in
psychotherapy; and listening to soft music together. I would ask him to
regulate his life style, including sleeping and eating regimes, avoiding
smoking and alcohol drinking, doing more exercise. I would make him feel safe
and supported, understanding that we will always be there whenever he needs us
and he is not alone.
I would ask him to constantly observe himself
in order to not identify with these fleeting thoughts and feelings and being
more mindful in life. We would meditate together, taking deep breaths and relax
for being more calm and moderate.
Excellent! Really well done
Daisy.
MEDITATION
1.
What was the Raja Yoga meditation theme this
month?
The Raja Yoga meditation theme of this month is Nijama/Rule 4 – Spiritual
Reading.
2.
What insights did you gain in your Raja Yoga
meditations this month?
What I learned this month is to see with the
eyes of the soul, with the inner vision for the spiritual realities that goes
beyond the outer surface, beyond the illusion of the world of forms and
phenomena, and penetrating deeper into the essence and meaning of everything.
This reminds me of what the fox said to the little prince in the book by
Antoine Saint Exupéry, “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is
only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to
the eye.” This spiritual reading can be applied
daily. All you need to do is look at events, surroundings, people’s behavior and
try to see either the rays or the esoteric meaning behind the form.
3. Do
you think that you able to read life and people more deeply this month, as a
result of your meditation work? What did you learn about yourself?
Yes, I think so. When reading about
depression for the report on psychological reading, I realized that I’m
suffering some kind of stress and depression. But I think and I hope that it is
just for a period, then it will be fine with time.
4. THE
FULL MOON MEDITATION: Please include insights you gained, or any thoughts at
all about this meditation experience.
The fullmoon this month is very special as we
were celebrating Vesak, which is also called the Buddha Day. I felt grateful
for all the blessings we received from the work of the Hierachy. I meditated
and sent good will for peace for the world, for myself and beloved ones.
Thank you Daisy. Very good
report.
Light, Love and Power
Eva
[1] Psychotherapy for Bipolar Disorder: http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/psychotherapy-bipolar-disorder
